In 2008 I attended the Telluride film festival and found myself sitting next to film producer Bill Pohlad before a screening. I asked him what he was working on and he told me a bit about Terrence Malick’s The Tree of Life, which is finally coming out this Friday after a lengthy post-production process that ended with a Palme d’Or win at this year’s Cannes Film Festival. He also told me about a companion piece intended for IMAX. As I was talking to him as a film lover and not a journalist, I couldn’t report the story. Luckily, I was able to sit down with him (and Dede Gardner) today for the film’s press junket and finally get something on the record. Hit the jump to see what he had to say.

Question: I actually ran into you at the Telluride Film Festival a couple of years ago and you mentioned that there was a companion piece you were considering that was going to be possibly done in IMAX. What happened to that? Will we see that footage?

Pohlad: Yeah. No, that’s still in the works. Obviously this became a bit overwhelming, getting Tree of Life where it should be and where everybody wanted it to be. And that period, a year ago, when we wanted to be in Cannes but it didn’t feel right and we needed a bit of extra time. And you know, when you’re getting to that point, you think, “Okay, lets wait on Voyage of Time and concentrate on what we’re doing.” But it’s still a strong desire of Terry’s and we’re all kind of working on getting it together.

Will there be footage that you shot for Tree of Life involved in that or will it be entirely new footage?

Pohlad: There will be footage that we shot during The Tree of Life in that movie but not the same footage. You know, it will be different.

Will it have characters or is it more focusing on the history of the universe type?

Pohlad: I don’t know that I would want to presume, you know…

Dede: You never know! Largely the latter. But again, it’s going to change too. Some new stuff is getting shot and we’ll see what happens.

Are you using IMAX cameras for this or are you using the same cameras from Tree of Life?

Dede: It’s a variety.

Pohlad: Yeah, it’s a variety. The cameras that were used for the Smithville section and most of the character work is one set of cameras and the stuff, the natural history things, there were a variety of cameras used depending on the situation. Some were IMAX and some weren’t.”

Terrence Malick left a lot of “The Tree of Life” footage on the cutting room floor. But the writer-director’s elaborate visual presentation of the birth of the universe and the origin of life may have a second life in an Imax documentary. The publicity-phobic maker of “The New World” and “The Thin Red Line” has been developing a documentary called “Voyage of Time.” It was originally designed as a companion piece to “Tree of Life,” which opens in Los Angeles and New York on Friday. But the producers of “Tree of Life” were concerned that two films—one fiction, one not—covering similar ground might confuse audiences, and decided to push back “Voyage of Time” to an unspecified future date. “It was important not to cannibalize ‘Tree of Life,’” says Bill Pohlad, whose River Road Entertainment financed “Tree of Life” and is one of the producers of “Voyage of Time.” “But we want to do it. He just has to find the time to do it,” Pohlad said of Malick, who recently completed photography and several reshoots on an untitled film starring Ben Affleck and Rachel McAdams that is by one account even more experimental than “Tree of Life.” “Voyage of Time” will be narrated by “Tree of Life” star Brad Pitt and display “the whole of time, from the birth of the universe to its final collapse,” according to a confidential outline for the film obtained by The Times. A team of more than 20 advisors will “ensure the film is both aesthetically unique and scientifically accurate.” According to a treatment for the documentary, “Voyage of Time” will cover the first signs of life, bacteria, cellular pioneers, first love, consciousness, the ascent of humanity, life and death and the end of the universe. The business plan, heavily illustrated with images of jellyfish, crocodile embryo, nebular clouds, a slot canyon in Utah and Jupiter’s moon Ganymede, includes testimonial letters from Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, who promises that “Voyage of Time” will “be a memorable combination of art and science that will inspire as well as educate.”

“Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” - Andy Warhol

testimonial letters from Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese and Steven Spielberg, and pubrick who promises that “Voyage of Time” will “be a memorable combination of art and science that will inspire as well as educate and enlighten.”

Emma Thompson Signs On As Another Narrator For Terrence Malick’s ‘Voyage Of Time’ Documentary Source: Playlist

Well, it’s been nearly a month since any word out of the world of Terrence Malick, and granted this is just a tiny morsel, but it at least confirms that things are still moving forward.

Buried in Deadline‘s recent report about the Emma Thompson scribed “Effie” it notes that the actress/writer has signed on to be “one of the narrators” of Malick’s gestating documentary “Voyage Of Time.” It’s the first we’ve heard of multiple narrators for the project, with Brad Pitt already expected to lend his voice to the film and it will be Thompson’s first time working with the director. The project likely crossed her plate due to as producers Don Rosenfeld and Andreas Roald of Merchant Ivory Productions are backing both Malick’s doc and Thompson’s “Effie.”

Last we heard about the film—that a long time ago was ambitiously planned to be concurrently released with “The Tree Of Life”—Malick was planning to utilize footage obtained during the production of “The Tree Of Life” in addition to shooting new footage for the project. The scope of the film will be massive, with the film said to encompass “the first signs of life, bacteria, cellular pioneers, first love, consciousness, the ascent of humanity, life and death and the end of the universe.” We’d guess that a different narrator will be utilized to voice each section of the documentary, so perhaps a few more names will come into the mix in the next little while.

And well, that’s about it. There’s no word on if the long mooted IMAX format is still in the cards or even when Malick will finish and release this thing; as you already know by now, he does what he wants when he wants. There’s also no word yet on the “experimental” film he’s got in the can starring Ben Affleck, Rachel McAdams, Rachel Weisz, Olga Kurylenko, Javier Bardem, Barry Pepper, Charles Baker and Jessica Chastain (aka “The Burial”). Filming was still happening as recently as May, and while Optimum recently picked up the U.K. rights for 2012 we all know how Malick and strict deadlines get along. Not to mention, there were reports of secretive project that may shoot this summer, but again, nothing has bubbled to the surface yet.

“Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” - Andy Warhol

While Terrence Malick has become somewhat known for cutting people out of his movies (just yesterday we learned Michael Shannon was on the chopping block for "To The Wonder," and we have a whole feature devoted to actors who got snipped), in one case he's going back and putting footage back into a movie. You might remember that two years ago, cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki revealed that Malick went back to the 300 plus miles of footage he shot for "The Tree Of Life" with plans for a six hour version of the movie. While the running time is yet to be determined, and we haven't really heard anything about it since, it does seem that Malick is preparing a longer cut of the movie.

We recently caught up with the director's longtime editor Billy Weber at the TCM Classic Film Festival, and he shared that Malick is indeed tinkering with "The Tree Of Life," and putting material back into the movie. "I don't even know the total [amount of footage that was shot], it was a huge amount of film, because he shot so many scenes. And I'm pretty sure he's doing a director's cut DVD of 'Tree Of Life,' and that will have some of those scenes deleted [placed back] in," Weber said. "But for the theatrical release, he really thought that it was going to be too much, and he just couldn't put it all in."

Of course, just what exactly will be put back is anybody's guess. Lubezki had previously stated (apologies for the Google translate), "The longer version will [likely], for the most part, relate to the children part. There were outstanding things, we've shot many, many things about Jack's childhood : his friends, his evolution, his changes, his awareness of the loss of his childhood..." Nor, is there any word if Fox Searchlight will release the new cut, or if someone like The Criterion Collection will take it on. But if the new version expands on family, what about all the cosmos/dinosaurs/world of wonder stuff?

Well, we reckon that's all going to be in "Voyage Of Time," the documentary Malick has been developing and working on for years. Again, this one has been flying pretty far under the radar, and last fall, producer Sarah Green cautioned, "There are large parts shot already but it’s a multi-year project so there’s a way to go yet." But could it be coming next year, with a distribution deal already locked into place?

" 'Voyage Of Time' is supposed to come out, I think, 2014. It's all planned, it's got a release, it has a distributor -- it's IMAX, it's a big IMAX film -- I think it has a date and all of that," Weber stated. While details on the documentary have bene vague -- it's said to be massive in scope, exploring "the first signs of life, bacteria, cellular pioneers, first love, consciousness, the ascent of humanity, life and death and the end of the universe” -- Emma Thompson and Brad Pitt have been previously reported to be among the narrators.

So all said and done -- keep your eyes peeled and ears open, because Malick has a few surprises up his sleeves it seems. We'll have more from our interview with Weber later this week. "To The Wonder" is in theaters and on VOD now. --interview by Diana Drumm

“Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” - Andy Warhol

BREAKING: In Hollywood, everyone knows that legendary director Terrence Malick marches to the beat of his own drum. But his unorthodox ways has led to a lawsuit in New York Federal court, waged against his Sycamore Pictures LLC by the London-based film financing company Seven Seas Partnership. They charge that after investing millions of dollars into Voyage Of Time–a documentary series narrated by the likes of Brad Pitt about the ascent of man–the film has been a no-show, with funds and Malick’s time allegedly redirected toward his other film projects. The lawsuit claims Malick did little or no work on what is supposed to be a trio of projects. When confronted, Malick and his company refused to open the books or produce the footage that was supposed to have been shot.

According to the lawsuit, while Malick was supposed to be working on the docu, he instead was working on films including the Oscar-nominated Tree Of Life, which starred Pitt, and To The Wonder, which starred Ben Affleck. The complaint alleges that Malick was only supposed to work on other pictures if it didn’t interfere with the docu. Seven Seas Partnership was formed by Norwegian‐born financier Andreas Roald for Voyage of Time. It is a unit of Roald’s Sovereign Films, which is producing the Emma Thompson-Dakota Fanning-starrer Effie Grey, and Olive’s Ocean.

“Sycamore has blown through nearly $6 million over the last six years on this project with nothing to show for it,” said Seven Seas counsel Dan K. Webb, an attorney at Winston & Strawn. “Our contract specified that funds were to be used exclusively for Voyage but we believe some were redirected to other films Malick was producing during that period, in flagrant disregard for our agreement.”

Seven Seas wants the court to force Malick to repay the $3.3 million it has invested to date and hand over any film footage and other intellectual property from the Voyage project, which also got $2.5 million from another investor. Seven Seas has distribution rights for the two, 45‐minute IMAX films and one feature film covered by the agreement. According to the complaint, Malick pitched it as the crowning achievement of his career.

According to the lawsuit, the $12 million project was supposed to be done by May 1, 2013. But Seven Seas terminated the contract on Feb. 15, 2013, when it became clear that little progress had been made on the films, deadlines had been missed, and Sycamore’s accounting appeared to be in disarray. The deal was made in late 2010 and by early 2012, Malick claimed to have shot a majority of the raw footage for the docu, but never produced it.

“Don't think about making art, just get it done. Let everyone else decide if it's good or bad, whether they love it or hate it. While they are deciding, make even more art.” - Andy Warhol

Pitt’s continued involvement in “Voyage” would suggst he may well provide one of the film’s voiceovers.

“Voyage of Time” “is a celebration of the earth, displaying the whole of time, from the birth of the universe to its final collapse,” Wild Bunch and Sophisticated announced early Tuesday.

They also hinted at least about “Voyage’s” much speculated-about contents. “Voyage” “examines all that went to prepare the miracle that stands before us now. After the nebulae and supernovae, after the lands of lava and smoke, after the elaboration of the first cells, first fish, first amphibians and reptiles, this great wonder!” a statement said.

“Using words and music, we are encouraged to view the grand cosmos and the minute life systems of our planet with gratitude and awe, in Malick’s most ambitious film to date.”

Malick has been working on this project since the 1970’s, collaborating with vfx artist Dan Glass (“Matrix Trilogy,” “Batman Begins”) and others.

The film is being created with the aid of “leading experts in natural history cinematography,” who, “using IMAXTM cameras, have captured the planet in an unprecedented way,” Sophisticated and Wild Bunch commented.

“Voyage” will be delivered in 2016 in a feature-length version and a 40-minute large-format version. The producers are in discussion with IMAX Corporation to release the giant screen version in IMAX(r) Theatres.

Said Tasioulis: “This story deals with the biggest questions in life, which touch all of us in an emotional, beautiful and awe-inspiring way. We are very happy to see it in the hands of such an excellent and ardent company as Wild Bunch.

Wild Bunch’s Vincent Maraval added: “This is a project we have been tracking for years and we are passionate about. This is a classic for the future generations, Malick’s legacy to humanity.”

Before joining Red Bull Media House’s Terra Mater Factual Studios as head of cinema, Tasioulis’ producer credits include some of the biggest nature documentaries of last decade, such as BBC’s deep ocean “Deep Blue” and the animal migration-themed “Earth.”

Terrence Malick's 'Voyage Of Time' Officially Announced, 2 Versions Of The Documentary On The Way In IMAX & 35mmvia The Playlist

2015 is shaping up as a very good year to be a Terrence Malick fan. His latest feature film "Knight Of Cups" will premiere at the Berlin International Film Festival this weekend, and his years in the making documentary "Voyage Of Time" looks to be headed toward completion.

IMAX, Sophisticated Films and Wild Bunch have announced that financing for "Voyage Of Time" is complete. As long rumored, the documentary will be delivered in two versions: a 40-minute IMAX cut narrated by Brad Pitt, and a 35mm feature length version narrated by Cate Blanchett.

Here's the official synopsis: VOYAGE OF TIME is a celebration of the universe, displaying the whole of time, from its start to its final collapse. This film examines all that occurred to prepare the world that stands before us now: science and spirit, birth and death, the grand cosmos and the minute life systems of our planet.

No word yet on an official release date, but this announcement at least means it's likely sooner rather than later. Press release below:

BROAD GREEN PICTURES and IMAX JOIN SOPHISTICATED FILMS and WILD BUNCH TO BRING DIRECTOR TERRENCE MALICK’S VOYAGE OF TIME TO THE SCREEN

LOS ANGELES, BERLIN (February 3, 2015) – IMAX Corporation (NYSE:IMAX), together with Broad Green Pictures, today announced they are joining Sophisticated Films and Wild Bunch to complete financing of Terrence Malick’s VOYAGE OF TIME. Broad Green will have the first opportunity to distribute the feature film version in North America following the exclusive IMAX release.

VOYAGE commenced international sales at the 2014 Cannes Film Festival, with GAGA (JPN), MARS (FR), Lumière (BENELUX) and EDKO (HK) among the first to secure distribution rights.

VOYAGE OF TIME is a celebration of the universe, displaying the whole of time, from its start to its final collapse. This film examines all that occurred to prepare the world that stands before us now: science and spirit, birth and death, the grand cosmos and the minute life systems of our planet. Malick is working first in the IMAX format for a 40-minute version with scientific narration by Brad Pitt, followed by a 35mm feature-length version with narration by Cate Blanchett.

VOYAGE OF TIME is the first recipient of financing from IMAX’s Original Film Fund, announced in May. The Fund, capitalized at $50-plus million, will co-finance a portfolio of 10 original IMAX films that will enable IMAX’s worldwide network to provide new digital content to its institutional partners in the form of documentaries that employ cutting-edge techniques, innovative filmmakers such as Malick, and embrace fresh new perspectives in documentary storytelling.

”Terrence Malick is one of the most innovative filmmakers in the world, and has literally been designing and making this movie with large-format cameras for over 30 years,” said Greg Foster, Senior Executive Vice President, IMAX Corp. and CEO of IMAX Entertainment. “To be able to launch our Film Fund portfolio with Malick and his imaginative style of filmmaking is capturing lightning in a bottle. We look forward to working with Terry and his producing partners on this groundbreaking film.”

“Terrence Malick is an innovator of epic scope,” said Gabriel and Daniel Hammond of Broad Green Pictures. "We have long admired his work and could not be more excited to partner with him on this project.”

“We are thrilled to partner with IMAX and Broad Green, who, along with our partners at Sophisticated Films and Wild Bunch, provide a combined expertise to ensure Terry’s vision is carried out at the highest level,” said Nicolas Gonda and Sarah Green.

Said Sophisticated’s Sophokles Tasioulis: “I am extremely pleased to welcome IMAX and Broad Green to VOYAGE OF TIME. In the past 12 months we have been working hard to secure the best imaginable set-up for Terry. With IMAX we give VOYAGE the perfect stage for the epic scale and ambition of the project and with Broad Green we bring on one of the most dynamic new powerhouses of the film industry.”

The deal was negotiated with the legal support of Stefan Luetje of Olswang Germany LLP, Alan Sacks at Frankfurt Kurnit and Christopher Tricarico, EVP of Business Affairs at Broad Green.